- 16/4/2025

What are family protection insurance and hospitalisation insurance?

3 min

Family protection/third party liability insurance: not compulsory, but definitely recommended

Family protection insurance: not just for families

The term “Family protection/third party liability insurance” can be misleading, as singles can also benefit from this coverage. It also compensates for damage you cause to third parties.

You and those you live with are covered, as are your domestic staff – such as cleaners and babysitters. Even your pets are included. So, if your kids decide to test an expensive vase’s resistance to gravity, you can rest easy – assuming you have family protection insurance.

On the other hand, if you are looking after someone else’s child and they break your neighbour’s window during a game of football, you’re covered too. You know what they say – broken glass brings luck… as long as you have insurance.

Legal expenses insurance as part of family protection insurance

Imagine your plumber comes to fix a leaking tap, but a few days later, it starts leaking again. You call him back, but he refuses to return. You’ve already paid, and you expect the job to be finished properly. This makes perfect sense.

While supplementary legal expenses insurance won’t cover the damage itself, it allows you to hire a lawyer to send a registered letter to your plumber. And if you take him to court, your insurance will cover the legal costs.

If liability disputes lead to a legal conflict, legal expenses insurance is invaluable.

Hospitalisation insurance: for singles and families

Mutual health insurance is compulsory, hospitalisation insurance is not

Health insurance in Belgium is provided through mutual health insurers. This compulsory insurance covers a significant portion of your medical expenses – including visits to a GP, dentist, and pharmacist.

However, some treatments, medical materials, and implants are not covered. These extra costs—after partial reimbursement by your mutual health insurer – can be covered by non-compulsory hospitalisation insurance. Taking out hospitalisation insurance is recommended as medical bills can be a financial strain. Usually, a deductible applies.

Enjoy extra-legal benefits

Many employees in Belgium receive a company car, which is a visible extra-legal benefit. Less visible extra-legal benefits include meal vouchers and, of course, hospitalisation insurance.

Thanks to this group health insurance, employees don't need to take out their own hospitalisation insurance. Plus, they don't pay taxes on their employer-provided hospitalisation insurance.

The employee's family members can also be covered for a small additional cost, or sometimes even for free. Note, however, that not all industries and sectors offer hospitalisation insurance.

Births and serious illnesses

Hospitalisation insurance provides cover in good and bad times. On the one hand, it covers a considerable share of the costs of your child's birth. On the other, many hospitalisation insurance policies have special provisions for serious illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson's or Crohn's disease.

Hospitalisation insurance is not just for life's little setbacks. You should also have it for the birth of your children. That way, your child can come into this world in the best conditions. Note that depending on your contract and the extended warranties, the premium for a single room will be higher than for a double room or a bed on a ward.

Life insurance: protect your loved ones after you die

What is loan protection insurance?

Everything has a beginning and an end—including life. And you should always prepare for death. That’s why it’s wise to plan ahead—to avoid burdening your loved ones with, for example, mortgage repayments. That is why you should take out loan protection insurance when getting a mortgage credit.

If you take out a mortgage credit together with your partner, you can each insure 50% of the borrowed amount. When one of the partners dies, the surviving partner must then only pay half (50%) of the monthly instalment.

When both partners insure the full capital (100%), the surviving partner doesn't have to pay anything. Here you can find more information about loan protection insurance and other insurance options to protect your home and your belongings.

Fixed-capital temporary life insurance

Suppose you want to protect your family even better so they can maintain the same standard of living after your death. In that case, you can take out fixed-capital temporary life insurance separately from any other credit, and choose a number of parameters yourself.

If, for example, you want to be sure that your children can continue to attend an expensive, prestigious school until their graduation, the fixed-capital life insurance is just the insurance for you. Make an appointment with your branch for a simulation.